Sam Sparro is actually pretty amazing. I mean, I really really didn't want to like him. Firstly, Black & Gold was played waaaaaayyy too much. Secondly, it's easy to roll your eyes at an artist that is genre-described as "digi-soul electrofunk" (nice work, Hot Press). Thirdly, he pulled out of playing at the Trinity Ball (boo! hiss!). Fourthly... I don't know! There was just something about him. Probably didn't help that the only publicity image that seemed to exist was the above one, and for some reason every time I saw it I found it indescribably annoying. I know I'm irrational. Can't help it.
Then I got my hands on the album. Full of gems. 21st Century Life is a track I kept hearing on the radio, assuming it was the latest David Guetta concoction and guiltily enjoying it while buying my milk and bread in Spar. Slap bass! Seinfeld would be proud.
I discovered the album was largely produced by Paul Epworth, aka Phones, aka producer extraordinaire (think Bloc Party). I've been a fan of Phones since his remix of Futureheads' Hounds of Love came out, and it's pretty amazing he's able to get such a different (yet still amazing) sound in the studio. There's a pretty interesting chat with Paul about his production techniques here.
Anyone else think Madonna could benefit from a little Phones? A lot of the tracks just seem to scream Madonna to me; if you imagine her voice instead of Sam's, they work, and lord knows it would have been considerably more successful than that last mess she released. Oh well. What's her loss is Sam's gain...
21st Century Life - Sam Sparro (Zshare) [Hyphenate Sam! Seriously!]
Cut Me Loose - Sam Sparro (Zshare)
I love how this photo was blatantly taken on the terrace of a cheap villa on Sam's package holiday to Tenerife. He may need to ditch those shades...
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